Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-05-19
THE TRIBUTE TO CLAYTON
oHIBF JUsTI0E J. p. ooMEe IA,
BRILLI4NT GRAFTON,
A Leng Aist OF Notable CHESTS and
speakers : An Interesting Event
EsonR 10 hso Remem bered An abe
Annals OF Delaware.

-f-f~@eNNNAA EWamu
tong 70 Bc Remembered an ths
Annals os Delaware.
-
The Opera House was allied last niob,
week with representative and intelligent
audience 70 listen TO Chief Justice Com.
egys' oration upon John NJ. Clayton. A
portrait OF the great Delawarean stood
upon an easel at the left Of the stage.
The Hon. Benjamin Il. Brewster occupied
. seat at the right Of the chairman of the
evening, DR.. IL. o. bnitcher, and Chief
Justice Oomegys aseat on his left among
The others upon the platform were Gov.
Biggs, Senator Gray, Hon. George II.
Bates, y. D. oomegys, Hon. Charles B.
Lore, Judge Paynter, Judge Houston,
Henry X. Robinson, Joseph Pyle, Edward
Belts, the Rev. j. 8. Willis, Job ii. jack
son, J, 4. Heald, Harry Conrad, ESQ.
y. Harry Hotfecker, Esq, Benjamin.
4 Nields, Esq William Bush, w. o. Spru.
ance, Esq., George W. Bush, aud II. N.
buck. Among the audience were seen
Registrar Bradford, Lea Pnsey, Washing.
ton Hastings, Charles Baird, Sheriff
Lnmbeon, Prothonotary MAXWELL, II. II.
Cochran, ESQ, the Rev. Jacob Todd,
ID. d., Frank Hoifecker, Esq., George
Richardson, Joseph A. Richardson, ESQ.
A. q. Wilson, Alfred Gawthrop, Gen. j,
2arke Postles, Stansbury Wiley, Prof.
fraham and others. There was very
arge representation Of ladies also In the
.udience.
The appearance of Chief Justice Como.
ysupon the platform as he was escorted
his seat by the chairman, drew forth a
eiterated round Of applause from those
resent.
DIR. b. O. Snitcher said: at is my dis
nguished honor and pleasure 10 intro.
nee TO you the Hon. Joseph L. OomegyB,
hief Justice Of the State of Delaware,
Tho Ia the orator Of the evening""
THE GRAFTON.
In prefaclng his address the chief Justice
i'd: "What has been TO me, for d long
me, q most disheartening fact, Is the APP
aren't want OF interest, on the part of the
resent generation OF men in our State, in
70 life, character and services OF the dis
nguished Delawareans who are no longer
wing" Most persons In Delaware and
reat many elsewhere have heard or read
,mething about John NJ. Clayton, but how
0 appeared, what manner OF man he was,
hat he did for his nation and State
ost OF them are mainly ignorant. This is
very lust but sad reproaeh for the people
our State, whose welfare he had always
heart; the achievements Of whose citl-
ns In military service and In the public
uncils were ever upon his lips and whose
nown as the mother and nourisher Of
Teat men, his own abilities and deeds did
ore TO establish than those of any other
her children.
John M. Clayton was born July Gath, 1896
az Dagsboro, Sussex county, where his
fnther, James Clayton, a brother OF the first
Governor OF Delaware under the Constltu-
tl9n of 1892 and first chief justice of the
State under the constitution OF 1881, 70.
sided and conducted the business OF manu-
facturing leather and quer-citron bark.
Young Clayton was taken to Fairfield Conn.,,
and placed In preparatory school at an
early age, and In due time was transferred
10 Yale College from whence he graduated
10 1915. He directly after entered the law
office Of Thomas Clayton, a kinsman, and
- om thence, later, went to the famous law
hool of Judge Gould, at Litohfleld, Conn.
was admitted to the bar at Georgetown
he October term--1619-of the old court
oommon pleas. Previous to his admls-
a TO the bar financial calamity over
sad the country, and his father, James
yton was among those who had TO give
amid the general disaster. A generous
rted connection supplied the necessary
lns to permit the young man TO continue
n
lentia 1t Is stated that during his
Ger at Litchfleld, he read I6hours day.
rtly after opening his office In Dover his
lsr died, and then began his great strug-
in the battle of life; he was driven on
j by necessity and was soon rewarded
an place In his profession. He soon at
lsd a position Of emlnence as Jury
gyor, and was retained the year following
admission by the Abolition SociAty II
iladephia to assist In the prosecution Of
glorious kidnapper In the Sussex court
'his trial he first developed HIS greet
or Of eross-examination. His career as
yer was interrupted by the great po- |
contest Of 1928. which marked his |
oaipfance Into political life. In 1887 he was |
appointed chief Justice OF the State, post |
ton he held until 1889, when he resigned 1t |
to enter the great Presidential contest OF the |
next year.
The chief Justice paid most glowing tri- |
bute to Mr.. Olayton's abilities as lawyer; |
his care in the preparation Of
=7as the examination Of witnesses and /
-.Vinclng method OF presenting bis |
20 Jury. In brief pen picture the |
lker outlined Mr.. Clayton as 50 large,
dsome man, with countenanee express
as well of Kindness OF heart as Of depth |
fought refined, but plain diction, very |
4, voice very persuasive in It's
and IN unlimited power of illustra-
ION 80 rare In fact, that II became well
,rDtood that no one could be convicted
capital felony whom he defended aud /
Ian, out Of the large number he pleaded /
before a Jury, ever was. His influence /
others was truly magnetic.
ieferring TO the disruption Of the Demo-
tic party In the last years OF President
,nroe's administration, the chief Justice |
d: OF the old Federalists, the Reads, |
yards, Van Dykes, Rogerses, Booths, |
uis McLane of New Castle county, the |
Agelys OF Kent and the Roblnsons OF |
Beex county became jackson men. The
iytons alone with George d. Rodney OF |
ssex of all the prominent Federalists OF |
same rank In the State, attached them |
as with the leading men of the defunct |
locratie party and their party was the |
ms party. Into the Adams and jackson |
tpnign Clayton was drawn, espousing |
cause OF the recollection of Adams, with |
he zeal Of his ardent nature rekindled; ;
with such exhibitions OF popular ora |
In his addresses at public meetings, as |
him more fame and power as pollti- |
.dyooate, than had before been enjoyed |
any ono else; and as yet such |
lry has never been equaled IN |
Btate. He was accepted by his |
- ns It's only leader, and maintained
At position In Il through It's changes OF
hanne, to the last OF his political career. |
And certainly he was the right man In tho |
right place. While he guided its fortunes |
In uelawnre Il never was defeated but once, |
nndthat was when, in 1882, the candidate
hA favored Ia the gubernatortal contest. lost |
his election by a small majority, his oppo- |
nents election being secured by his having |
been an officer OF distinction In the Della
wara line in the Revolutionary war. Ihe
kround was more than recovered In the |
inatorial campaign, the Wings sue
Ing by then large majority
q Adams party having the Legislature, |
ton WIS elected to the Senate OF the |
ed States for six years from the 4th day |
arch, 1929. Though less than ~ years
and having until the campaign
the year before, never o,,aS,sn aTsn
for important services In national
irs he soon showed that he meant TO be |
an OF action by introducing and secur--
he massage of resolution for special
,mittee to investigate the management
the post-offlce department when re-
ted In exposing TO the country the gross
corruption. by the time the investlga-
IN had ended the Senate had seen enough |
Clayton and listened to his strong, |
rcible convincing speeches In support o.
de Investigation and OF the results afllrmeu
to have been reached by 1t, to hold him In
the highest esteem, possessing eStraoraln'
ary powers In debate. Clayton's speech IN
the debate upon the Foote resolution az
Olaytons first Legislative session, for COM
pleteness of structure and force OF reason
Ing end illustration will not suffer by q
comparison with any delivered upon thht
fnAfnorable occasion, Clayton became en-
titleh to the merit Of having settled our
Southern troubles upon the question OF
valuation Of imports securing the nome
valuation" ,oo,
Concerning the State Constitution OF 1881 |
tho ehlef Justice said: 1t met at Dover IN
N0ybmber OF that year. There were IN tnat